Process of increasing activity of proteolytic enzymes



Patented Oct. 12, 1937 PROCESS OF INCREASING ACTIVITY OF PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES Leo Waller-stein, New York, N. Y.,

Wallerstcin Company, Inc., New York, N.

assignor to Y., a

corporation of New York No Drawing. Original application January I,

1928, Serial No.

This invention relates to certain improvements in activating proteolytic enzymes of that class which are active in an acid, in a slightly alkaline,

and a neutral medium, and is a division of my co- 5 pending application Serial No. 245,263, filed Jan-' uary '1 1928, now Patent No. 1,855,431

It is the object of the present invention to provide a process foractivating enzymes of the class referred to which will involve the use of an activator which is substantially non-poisonous, and

therefore easy and safe to handle, and which will have the desired activating effect on the enzyme so that its action is more complete and quicker, so that in addition to the time element a smaller amount of the enzyme is required than. would be necessary without the use of the activator.

I have discovered that salts of hydro-sulfurous acid, such forinstance as sodium hydro-sulflte or its formaldehyde compound, sodium sulfoxylate, are activators which, when used under suitable conditions as to temperature,'eto. with the enzyme, have the desired activating eiiect thereon, but at the same time are substantially non poisonous, so that they may be used with safety and with the desired effect.

As a concrete illustration of the method of utilizing my discovery, I will describe a process in which papain is selected as an enzyme of that class which is active in an acid, in-a slightly alkaline, and in a neutral, medium, and in a process for degumming silk.

In carrying out such process,-I add to the enzyme an activator in the form of a salt or a mixture of salts of hydro-sulfurous acid which is subvstantiallynon-poisonous, the use of such salt rendering the bath-safe tohandle andefiecting the desired acceleration of its action.

- Various salts of hydro-sulfurous acid' may be what varied} but using a' papain solution, such solution is prepared in the proportion of one gram of papain of commercial strength to five liters of water. To this bath is added a salt of hydro- 45 a mixture of this salt and another-salt of said acid, as sodium sulfoxylate, if desired. The actiused and the conditions of use may be some-.

suliurous acid, such as sodium hydro-sulfite, or

245,263. Divided and this application March 25, 1932, Serial No.

14 Claims. .(Cl. 195-29) found to be of advantage under certainconditions of use.

. By the use of such activators, the time of en zymatic action is reduced, thus permitting faster working, and the amount of the enzyme necessary is also reduced and the activators may be easily and safely handled. v a

What is claimed is:

1. The. process of increasing the activity or proteolytic enzymes of that'type which are active in 'a neutral, weak alkaline, and a, slightly acid medium, which consists-in the addition to'the enzyme of a water-soluble salt of hydro-suliurous acid.

2. The process of increasing the activity of papain, which consists in the addition to pa-pain of a water-soluble salt of hydro-sulfurous acid.

3. The process of increasing the activity of proteolytic enzymes of that type which are active in a neutral, weak alkaline, and a slightly acid medium, which consists in'the addition to the enzyme of a mixture of water-soluble salts of hydro-sulfurous acid.

4. The process of increasing the activity of papain, which consists in the addition to papain of a mixture of(water-soluble salts of hydro-sulfurous acid.

5. As new article of manufacture an activated protease mixture comprising papain and a hydrosulphite belonging to the group consisting of alkali metal salts of hydro-sulfurous acid.

6. As new article of iinanuiacture a vegetable protease activated by a hydro-sulfite belonging to the group consisting of the alkali metal salts of hydro-sulfurous acid.

'7. As new article oi manufacture a vegetable protease activated by sodium hydro-sulflte.

8. As new article of manufacture an activated protease mixture comprising papain and sodium hydro-sulflte.

' 9. The process of increasing the activity of proteolytic enzymes of that type which? are active in a neutral, weak alkaline and a slightly acid.

medium, which comprises adding to the enzyme a sodium salt of hydrofurous. acid.

10. The process of i creasing the activity of proteolytic enzymes of that type which are active in a neutral,;weak alkaline. and a slightly acid medium, which comprises adding to the enzyme, at diflerent times during the utilization' of the I enzyme material, a water-soluble salt 'of hydrosulfurous acid. w -11. The processor increasing the activity of proteolytic enzymes of that type which are active in a neutrahweak alkaline and a slightly acid 10 mixture comprising papain and a'salt selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydrosulfites and alkali metal sulfoxylates.

14. As a new article of manufacture an activated protease mixture comprising a proteolytic enzyme of that type which'are active in neutral, 5

weak alkaline and slightly acid media and a hydro-sulphite of the group consisting of alkali metal salts of hydro-sulfurous acid.

LEO WAILERS'I'EIN. 10 

